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(No Model.) I

A. J. KEROKHOFFS. LINK FOR BRACELETS, CHAINS, NECKLACES, 6w."

No. 421,136. Patented-Feb. 11,1890.

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llllnl v MM UNITED STATES 'ATENT @FFICE.

ANTOINE J. KERCKHOFFS, OF NEXV YORK, N. Y.

LINK FOR BRACELETS, CHAINS, NECKLACES, 8L0- SPECIFICATION forming partof Letters Patent No. 421,136, dated February 11, 1890. Applicationfiled August 12, 1889. $erial No. 320,546. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, ANTOINE JOSEPH KERCK- HOFFS, of New York city, inthe county and State of New York, have invented a new and Improved Linkfor Bracelets, Chains, Necklaces, &c., of which the following is a full;clear, and exact description.

My invention relates to a joint for bracelets, chains, necklaces, rings,belts, and other similar articles of jewelry, and has for its object toprovide a means whereby the links or parts to be connected may beexpeditiously and conveniently united and maintained in horizontalalignment, thus avoiding any side curve or waving effects.

A further object of the invention is to provide a hinged joint ofeconomical construction, great strength and solidity, and one which willrender the links or parts connected pliable only upon one side thereof,whereby the article may be made to perfectly fit the portion of thebodyitis adapted to ornament.

The invention consists in the novel construction and combination of theseveral parts, as will be hereinafter fully set forth, and pointed outin the claims.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part ofthis specification, in which similar figures of reference indicatecorresponding parts in all the views.

Figure 1 is aside elevation of a block bracelet, the blocks whereof areconnected by my improved joint, a few of which blocks are in section.Fig. 2 is a vertical section through a portion of the blocks enlarged.Fig. 3 is a section on line a: a: of Fig. 2, and Fig. 4 is a perspectiveView of one of the blocks.

This joint is especially adapted for uniting a series of links to form anecklace or bracelet, and to provide a means whereby the sides of theseveral links will be in perfect alignment, and wherein the united linkswill be pliable only upon one face. The links 10 are preferably in theform of rectangularblocks, the ends of which from a point at or near thecenter are beveled downward, as illustrated at 11 in Fig. 2. In one endof the block a rectangular horizontal opening 12 is pro duced, andintegral with the opposite end a tongue 13 is formed of sufficient sizeand shape to snugly fit in the opening 12 of the opposed block. Theouter face of the tongue 13 is made curved, as best shown at 14 in Fig.2. The tongue is also provided with a pinaperture 15, extending throughfrom side to side, and the ends of the blocks above the bevelportion 1].are perfectly true and straight, whereby when two blocks are placed incontact upon a horizontal surface the joint at the top is hardlyvisible.

In constructing a bracelet, n ecklaoe, or other article of jewelry aseries of blocks are employed, and the tongue of one block is made toenter the opening 12 of an opposed block, the squared ends of the twoblocks being brought close together, and when in this position apivot-pin 16 is passed through the side of one block at the endcontaining the opening, and through the pin-opening 15 of the tongue,which is introduced into said block-opening, as shown in Fig. 3, andthus block after block is added and hinged one to the other by myimproved joint until the article to be manufactured is finished. Byuniting the blocks in this manner the pins and hinged connection arerendered invisiblewhen the work is finished. If gold is used for theblocks, a gold pivot-pin is also used, and when the side faces of theblocks are polished it is almost impossible to locate the pin. It willalso be observed that by connecting the blocks in the manner describedaperfect hinged joint is obtained, and that the side faces of each blockare in the same plane. It will further be observed that the completedwork is pliable upon one side only, whereby it can be made to perfectlyfit the portion of the body it is adapted to adorn.

In addition to providing a perfect joint, a great economy of materialand labor is obtained in the process of manufacturing, and, whereasheretofore it has required an eXperienoed workman to construct a blockchain or bracelet, by employing the joint above described an indifferentworkman is enabled to turn out a very perfect and satisfactory article.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secureby Letters Patent 1. As an improved article of manufacture, a blockadapted to form one link of a bracelet, chain, or equivalent article,having arectangular opening formed in one end and a a block adapted toconstitute a link of a chain, bracelet, or equivalent article, havingthe lower portion of its ends downwardly beveled and the upper portionstraight and true, and provided with a rectangular opening in one endand a tongue formed upon the opposite end, provided with a pin-openingand a curved end surface, substantially as shown and described.

ANTOINE J. KEROKI-IOFFS. VVitnesses':

J. F. AOKER, J r., GEORGE CHARDEY.

